D&D Geekery.
So. I'm working on a new D&D world. One of the magical traditions is inspired roughly by the Hermetic Order from Mage the Ascension. I just wrote this, in about half an hour, starting at around... 1:30.
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One of the most prevalent and widely accepted magical systems is the Circles of Lyshai, known for its scientific cataloguing of magical effects based on the nature of the subject. Practitioners of this form of magic are known as Magi (Sing: Magus) in general, and are given further titles by the specific types of Circles they practice, and to what degree. The Five Circles of Lyshai are as follows.
Arcane - Deals with the manipulation of magic itself and in the creation of arcane manifestations of pseudo-matter and energy.
Energy - Deals with the conjuration and manipulation of any energy of the Inner Planes not tied to Earth or Water.
Fate - Deals with the fabric of time, divination, fate, chance, and luck.
Material - Deals with the conjuration and manipulation of all forms of matter, including things composed of (in whole or part) elemental Earth and Water.
Mental - Deals with the manipulation of mental states and perceptions of all kinds.
Each Magus chooses three Circles to be his Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Circles. He may learn and cast spells all spell levels of his Primary circle, as well as Epic Seeds which fall into that Circle. He may cast up to 8th level spells of his Secondary Circle, and up to 6th level spells of his Tertiary Circle. For the remaining two Circles, he may only learn and cast up to 4th level spells.
Magi are more idiosyncratically named according to their Primary through Tertiary Circles. Their Primary Circle denotes the base of their title: Arcanist, Energist, Fatalist, Materialist, or Mentalist. Their Secondary Circle titles are as follows: Arcano, Energo, Fatalo, Materia, Menta. The maximum level of spell one can currently cast from their Secondary Circle (and has in a spellbook) denotes the prefix this title will have in their name, as follows:
MAX SPELL LEVEL PREFIX
1 Ith'(Name)
2 Oth'(Name)
3 Uth'(Name)
4 Ath'(Name)
5 Itha'(Name)
6 Otha'(Name)
7 Utha'(Name)
8 Atha'(Name)
The final component of one's title is based on their denoted Tertiary Circle, and is as follows: Arca, Eno, Fata, Mata, Mena. The prefix tradition is the same as the above table.
Depending on the maximum level of spell one is able to cast within their Primary circle, they have the following titles before all other components:
MAX SPELL LEVEL TITLE
1 Apprentice Ith
2 Aprentice Oth
3 Acolyte Uth
4 Acolyte Ath
5 Adept Itha
6 Adept Otha
7 Master Utha
8 Master Atha
9 Grand Athala
Epic Grand Athalon
So, as an example.
A 25th level Magus has the following Circles: Energy (Primary), Material (Secondary), Arcane (Tertiary). He knows and can cast Epic spells of the Energy Circle; he knows and can cast up to 8th level spells of the Material Circle; and he knows and can cast up to 6th level spells of the Arcane Circle. His full title would be:
Grand Athalon Energist Atha'Materia Otha'Arca.
Further appelations are bestowed upon higher ranking Magi and must be recognized by a council consisting of at least 1 Magus of each Order (Primary Circle), of the Adept Itha status or above. Typically, one gains a new appelation upon each rank one climbs. The sole exception is that when one attains the knowledge and ability to cast Epic spells, he or she may choose an appelation oneself.
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One of the most prevalent and widely accepted magical systems is the Circles of Lyshai, known for its scientific cataloguing of magical effects based on the nature of the subject. Practitioners of this form of magic are known as Magi (Sing: Magus) in general, and are given further titles by the specific types of Circles they practice, and to what degree. The Five Circles of Lyshai are as follows.
Arcane - Deals with the manipulation of magic itself and in the creation of arcane manifestations of pseudo-matter and energy.
Energy - Deals with the conjuration and manipulation of any energy of the Inner Planes not tied to Earth or Water.
Fate - Deals with the fabric of time, divination, fate, chance, and luck.
Material - Deals with the conjuration and manipulation of all forms of matter, including things composed of (in whole or part) elemental Earth and Water.
Mental - Deals with the manipulation of mental states and perceptions of all kinds.
Each Magus chooses three Circles to be his Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Circles. He may learn and cast spells all spell levels of his Primary circle, as well as Epic Seeds which fall into that Circle. He may cast up to 8th level spells of his Secondary Circle, and up to 6th level spells of his Tertiary Circle. For the remaining two Circles, he may only learn and cast up to 4th level spells.
Magi are more idiosyncratically named according to their Primary through Tertiary Circles. Their Primary Circle denotes the base of their title: Arcanist, Energist, Fatalist, Materialist, or Mentalist. Their Secondary Circle titles are as follows: Arcano, Energo, Fatalo, Materia, Menta. The maximum level of spell one can currently cast from their Secondary Circle (and has in a spellbook) denotes the prefix this title will have in their name, as follows:
MAX SPELL LEVEL PREFIX
1 Ith'(Name)
2 Oth'(Name)
3 Uth'(Name)
4 Ath'(Name)
5 Itha'(Name)
6 Otha'(Name)
7 Utha'(Name)
8 Atha'(Name)
The final component of one's title is based on their denoted Tertiary Circle, and is as follows: Arca, Eno, Fata, Mata, Mena. The prefix tradition is the same as the above table.
Depending on the maximum level of spell one is able to cast within their Primary circle, they have the following titles before all other components:
MAX SPELL LEVEL TITLE
1 Apprentice Ith
2 Aprentice Oth
3 Acolyte Uth
4 Acolyte Ath
5 Adept Itha
6 Adept Otha
7 Master Utha
8 Master Atha
9 Grand Athala
Epic Grand Athalon
So, as an example.
A 25th level Magus has the following Circles: Energy (Primary), Material (Secondary), Arcane (Tertiary). He knows and can cast Epic spells of the Energy Circle; he knows and can cast up to 8th level spells of the Material Circle; and he knows and can cast up to 6th level spells of the Arcane Circle. His full title would be:
Grand Athalon Energist Atha'Materia Otha'Arca.
Further appelations are bestowed upon higher ranking Magi and must be recognized by a council consisting of at least 1 Magus of each Order (Primary Circle), of the Adept Itha status or above. Typically, one gains a new appelation upon each rank one climbs. The sole exception is that when one attains the knowledge and ability to cast Epic spells, he or she may choose an appelation oneself.